Order (Tattoos and Ties 2)

“Blaine told me he could hear the biker coming out in me. My vocabulary’s apparently changing,” he said to divert the current course of the conversation.

Key’s expression unexpectedly shifted, his body tensed, and his arms tightened around Alec. A territorial move that caused Alec to do a double take. Key’s possessive intentions showed on his suddenly easy to read face, causing Alec to chuckle then lift a finger to trace the skin of his severely creased brow. Say what he would, this right here proved that Key knew they were more than great sex. Lust didn’t provoke such primal jealousy, and Alec called him out.

“You’re jealous.”

“I ain’t jealous.” Key scoffed as if that were the most absurd suggestion. He abruptly released Alec, turning away as he reached for the tray of fajita meat.

Alec stole Key’s earlier move, coming in behind to embrace him, lifting on his tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “Then what are you?”

“I told you I don’t like him. He left you out there on the road like that,” Key said, looking over his shoulder. Alec kissed his cheek, knowing Key always got stuck right there. He had never let it go that Blaine had left him on the dark roadside alone the first night he and Key met.

“But you took care of me,” Alec reminded Key. Alec understood the dangers that had been involved, but he’d always considered the whole night a big win for him. If it hadn’t all gone down exactly the way it had, he might not have this man in his house right now.

“What if somethin’ had happened to you?” Key challenged.

“I’m certain you would have handled the situation upon your return. Anyone stupid enough to confront you would get what they deserved. Besides, I’m not a weakling. I can handle myself. If I remembered correctly, at the time, I brought up the hours of defense training courses I’ve watched on Viceland.” Alec got the desired effect as the brooding biker smiled and shook his head at Alec’s silliness, returning to the tray, stacking the veggies on top, and balancing the bowl of beans with the other hand.

“You’re butterin’ me up for somethin’.” Key’s sudden shift in thoughts confused Alec, and he watched Key’s ass bounce toward the back door. Alec bit his lip, proud of his purchase. He’d gotten it right. He’d suspected those shorts might help accentuate that bubble butt perfectly. “Grab my beer?”

He wasn’t even embarrassed that Key caught him appreciating the view. Alec grabbed the beer bottle and his wine glass then started for the back door. Resolve struck. He had to show Key he meant what he said, not with words, but with actions. All Key’s impenetrable barriers were nothing more than big gray sheets of glass waiting for Alec to shatter.

There were some holes in that theory. His father was the Speaker of the House for the United States Congress. That would never change no matter how estranged they were. Various images of the club members came to mind. Key was extraordinary, beautiful in every way. The others…not so much. His mind jumped straight to a scene out of the movie Deliverance, with burly mountain men saying, “He got a real pretty mouth, ain’t he?”

Alec shivered at the thought then shook his head. How in the hell had the bikers in his head suddenly morphed into backwoods hillbillies? Probably remnants of Key’s father’s rap sheet bouncing around in his head. Key might be in self-preservation mode, but his guy needed to know how badly Alec wanted him on all levels, not just a sexual one. A challenge he looked forward to winning. And he would win. No question.

Four days later

Keyes’s gaze stayed fixed on Alec’s swaying ass as he walked through the house in a pair of barely there workout shorts. His arms rested on the kitchen bar countertop, an ice-cold beer nearby, and he was tired as hell. He had come to Alec’s place every night after work, which required he leave each morning at the crack of dawn to fight the hellacious traffic all the way back into downtown Dallas. Adding to the misery, it was hot as hell outside, the temperature boiling, making the ride that much more unpleasant.

Now, he was there, butt-ass tired, and Alec was ignoring him. Keyes sighed. Alec wasn’t really ignoring him. They’d fallen into this weird routine of dinner, some sort of entertainment that usually included swimming or television, then bed. Strangely enough, for four long nights they hadn’t had sex. Alec “the toucher” wasn’t truly touching him anymore. Which was confusing as hell. He got a kiss goodnight and a kiss goodbye the next morning. A simple peck with barely any tongue and definitely nothing more. He didn’t like that shit one little bit.

Tonight, Alec’s thin shorts mocked him. He drank his beer while staring at that perfect ass until Alec turned and lifted a cold brew from the refrigerator. Keyes nodded, draining the one he had as Alec slid the new one across the bar to him.